Why this matters
Social Security is a core retirement income source for many households. For spouses and divorced workers, the program offers benefit pathways beyond your own earnings record: spousal benefits, divorced-spouse benefits, and survivor benefits. Choosing the correct claiming strategy can increase lifetime cash flow, protect a lower-earning partner, or lock in survivor protection for a surviving spouse.
In my 15+ years advising retirees, I’ve seen couples add the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars in lifetime benefits by coordinating claims—usually by delaying one spouse’s benefit while claiming a spousal benefit on the other, or by ensuring an eligible divorced spouse claims the higher ex-spouse benefit when appropriate.
This guide walks through the eligibility rules you must know, the practical claiming options available in 2025, trade-offs to weigh, and examples to illustrate how timing changes outcomes.
Basics: which benefits apply to spouses and divorced workers?
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Spousal benefits: If you are married (or were married) and your spouse has a higher benefit, you may qualify for a spousal benefit equal to up to 50% of the worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at full retirement age (FRA). The spousal amount is a supplement: you receive the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit.
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Divorced-spouse benefits: If you were married for at least 10 years, are currently unmarried, and meet age and eligibility rules, you may claim divorced-spouse benefits based on your ex-spouse’s record. Your claim does not reduce the ex-spouse’s benefit.
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Survivor benefits: A surviving spouse may be eligible for up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit when they reach the survivor FRA (often the same FRA used for retirement benefits). Reduced survivor benefits are available as early as age 60 (50 if disabled).
Authoritative source: Social Security Administration benefit overviews (see: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/ and https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html).
Important rules and common constraints (what changes in 2016 and what remains)
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File-and-suspend: The “file-and-suspend” strategy that let one spouse file for benefits and immediately suspend them—while allowing the other spouse to collect a spousal benefit—was eliminated in 2016. That option is no longer available to new filers.
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Restricted applications: The ability to file a restricted application (claim spousal benefits only while delaying your own retirement benefit) is available only to a limited cohort. As of the last SSA guidance, it applies only to people born on or before January 1, 1954. If you are younger, you cannot use a restricted application to isolate spousal benefits while delaying your own.
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Delayed retirement credits: If you delay claiming your own retirement benefit past your FRA, your benefit grows by actuarial delayed retirement credits—roughly 8% per full year delayed—until age 70. That increase affects the worker’s own benefit and, for survivors, can raise the survivor benefit.
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Earnings test: If you claim benefits before you reach FRA and continue working, the SSA’s earnings test can temporarily withhold benefits if your earnings exceed a threshold. The thresholds change annually—check SSA for current figures.
See SSA claiming rules: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html
How timing affects spousal and divorced-spouse benefits
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Spousal maximum (at FRA): Up to 50% of the worker’s PIA. If you claim a spousal benefit before your FRA, it will be reduced proportionally.
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Divorced spouse: The same percentage rules apply—divorced spouses can receive up to 50% of the ex-spouse’s PIA at FRA, reduced if taken early.
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Claiming order: Many people assume you must claim your own benefit first to get a spousal benefit. That’s incorrect: you receive the higher of your own benefit or the spousal amount. The practical implication is you should model both paths (claiming your own versus claiming a spousal/divorced benefit and delaying your own) to see which gives higher lifetime income.
Practical tip: Use the SSA’s online calculators and benefit statements (your Social Security Statement) to compare projected monthly benefits at different claim ages. For deeper planning—life expectancy, pension offsets, and taxes—run a break-even analysis or consult a planner.
Coordinating strategies (real-world approaches)
1) Claim spousal (or divorced-spouse) at FRA while delaying your own retirement benefit to age 70
- Who it helps: Lower-earning spouse who is eligible for a spousal benefit and whose own benefit would grow significantly if delayed.
- Why it works: The spousal amount can provide income now while the worker’s own benefit accrues delayed credits until 70.
- Limits: This requires eligibility for a spousal or divorced-spouse benefit and, for restricted applications, the narrow birthdate cutoff noted above.
2) Take a small benefit early for immediate needs, then switch to higher benefit later
- Who it helps: Households needing cash flow at early retirement or with limited other income.
- Trade-offs: Early claiming permanently reduces the monthly amount, but might be appropriate if life expectancy is short or immediate budget needs outweigh future gains.
3) Delay both spouses to maximize survivor protection
- Who it helps: Couples where one spouse has far higher earnings and longevity risk is a concern.
- Why it works: Delaying the higher earner increases the eventual survivor benefit the surviving spouse will receive. For married couples, this can be the single most effective way to increase lifetime household income and protection.
For coordination with pensions: If you have a pension with survivor options or a lump-sum pension, coordinate that decision with your Social Security timing. See our guide on coordinating pensions and Social Security for optimal lifetime income for more detail: Coordinating Pensions and Social Security for Optimal Lifetime Income (https://finhelp.io/glossary/coordinating-pensions-and-social-security-for-optimal-lifetime-income/).
Examples (simple math to compare paths)
Example A — Spousal claim while delaying own benefit
- Worker A PIA at FRA: $2,400
- Spouse B’s own PIA at FRA: $600
- Spousal benefit at B’s FRA: up to 50% of A’s PIA = $1,200
If B claims the spousal benefit at FRA ($1,200) and delays her own $600 benefit until age 70, that $600 could grow by about 32% (if FRA 66 to 70 and 8% per year) to roughly $792. Combined in later years, B’s own benefit might exceed the spousal amount or provide a larger survivor benefit.
Example B — Divorced spouse claim
- Ex-spouse’s PIA at FRA: $2,000
- You divorced after 15 years and are unmarried
- If you claim at your FRA you could receive up to $1,000 (50% of $2,000). If you claim at 62, it will be reduced.
These examples simplify many adjustments—cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), taxes, and coordination with pensions are omitted. Use the SSA calculators for precise projections.
Common mistakes and misconceptions
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Mistake: Assuming spousal claims never affect your own benefit. Reality: the SSA pays the higher of your own or the spousal amount, but claiming choices (and restricted-application eligibility) can limit how you layer benefits.
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Mistake: Overlooking survivor planning. The timing choice that raises a primary worker’s benefit (by delaying to 70) can appreciably increase the survivor benefit—often the most valuable policy for married couples.
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Mistake: Forgetting remarriage rules. If you remarry before age 60, you generally lose eligibility for divorced-spouse benefits based on the prior marriage. If you remarry after age 60, you may still claim on the ex-spouse (confirm with SSA). Always check current SSA guidance.
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Mistake: Ignoring taxation and means-tested programs. Social Security benefits can be taxable and affect Medicare premiums (IRMAA) and eligibility for need-based programs.
Practical planning checklist
- Get current benefit estimates from SSA.gov and download your Social Security Statement.
- Run break-even scenarios for claiming at 62, FRA, and 70. Our guide on Delaying Social Security (break-even analysis) explains how to run that comparison: Delaying Social Security: Pros, Cons, and Break-Even Analysis (https://finhelp.io/glossary/delaying-social-security-pros-cons-and-break-even-analysis/).
- Consider survivor needs—calculate the surviving spouse’s income if the higher earner delays to 70.
- Coordinate with pensions and IRAs; see our article on coordinating pensions and Social Security for optimal lifetime income for interactions with defined-benefit choices and lump-sum decisions (https://finhelp.io/glossary/coordinating-pensions-and-social-security-for-optimal-lifetime-income/).
- Consult a fee-only planner, especially if you have a complex situation: significant pension options, remarriage, or tax sensitivity.
Frequently asked quick answers
- Can my divorced spouse claim on my record without me losing anything? No—an ex’s benefit does not reduce your benefit. But there are eligibility requirements (10-year marriage minimum, unmarried, and age rules).
- Does claiming a spousal benefit reduce the worker’s benefit? No. Spousal and divorced-spouse claims do not lower the worker’s benefit.
- Should I delay to age 70 always? Not always. The right choice depends on health, family longevity, financial need, and survivor objectives. Run a break-even and consider survivor protection.
Official SSA resources: see the retirement benefits planner and family special rules at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/ and https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html.
Final advice and next steps
If you are a spouse or divorced worker with potential entitlement to benefits on another person’s record, don’t guess—model. Use SSA tools for baseline numbers, then layer in life expectancy, taxes, and pension choices. In my practice I often see households that could improve lifetime income materially by delaying the higher earner or using the spousal pathway strategically.
This article is educational and not individualized financial advice. For advice tailored to your situation, consult a certified financial planner or contact the Social Security Administration directly.
Sources and further reading
- Social Security Administration, Retirement Benefits (benefit rules and claiming): https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/
- Social Security Administration, Claiming rules (including restricted application guidance): https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Situations vary—consult a qualified professional before making decisions.
